Carnot cycle (intro)
Chemical Thermodynamics · Chemistry
Gas piston lab
Interactive 3DHeat the gas and watch molecules speed up — pressure obeys the gas laws live.
Controls
Drag the sliders or type a value — the simulation updates live.
K
200K600K
×
0.5×2×
Study notes
A steam engine works between 600 K (boiler) and 300 K (condenser). Find max efficiency. Step 1: η_Carnot = 1 − T_c/T_h = 1 − 300/600 = 0.5. Step 2: Maximum 50% — half the heat MUST be dumped. Step 3: Real engines reach ~35% (friction, irreversibility). Step 4: To improve: raise T_h (better materials) or lower T_c. Carnot sets the ceiling every heat engine lives under.